A trout fly for every season

If you want to catch trout 12 months of the year, all you need are a handful of dry flies and nymphs.

In southern Appalachian trout streams, various mayfly, caddis and stone hatches occur from January through December. Granted, the hatches are sparser and less frequent in the winter and summer, but trout have to eat no matter what the weather conditions are.

One of the most consistent hatches, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding streams, is the Blue-Winged Olive, a Mayfly in the same company as a Hendrickson, Sulphur, Red Quill and Pale Morning Dun.

All it takes is a little sun to activate Blue-Wings. Other year-round flies include the Elk-Hair Caddis (tan or yellow) and the stone flies, particularly the Yellow Stone.

A Woolly Booger also is an effective year-round pattern. Darker colors such as brown, black and gray work best in the colder months, and lighter patterns work well in the spring, summer and fall.

For winter fishing, carry a thermometer to check changes in water temperature. Trout are more active when the water temperature is at least 40 degrees. In the summer, choose heavily-shaded pools and runs and areas where small tributaries enter the stream.

Here's a month-by-month guide for selecting flies:

• January-Februay - As far as weather goes, these are the two roughest months of the year, a time when we get the most cold weather, snow and ice.

Trout don't move around much, nor do they feed often, especially when temperatures are at the freezing or below freezing level. Look for trout in deep pools and get nymphs down deep by adding extra weight and bump them along the bottom.

• October-November - This is the time to watch for spawning brown trout. Tributaries are prime spots fish during the fall spawn.

Use large flies such as a No. 12-10 chartreuse, olive or black Woolly Booger, a No. 10 Bitch Creek or a No. 21-10 Girdle Bug. Ideal spawning conditions are when water temperatures are between 44 and 48 degrees, and spawning can start as early as September and continue through November, since not all browns spawn at the same time.